Revised Health And Disability Service Standards

Standards
New Zealand has published the revised NZS 8134:2008 Health
and disability services Standards, with approval from the
Minister of Health.

‘The revised Standards will be
mandatory from 1 June 2009, for those health and disability
services, residential services, mental health services, rest
homes, and hospitals required to comply with the Health and
Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001,’ says Gillian Grew,
Chief Advisor (Services), at the Ministry of Health.

The
Standards establish safe levels of care for consumers, set
out the rights of consumers, and ensure service providers
are clear about their responsibilities for good outcomes.

‘Health providers can use the Standards to streamline
the auditing process used to comply with the Act, and to
remain up to date with best practice. Other health and
disability services should also consider adopting the
Standards,’ says Gillian.

The Ministry of Health
sponsored and managed a review of the 2001 Standards,
following feedback from stakeholders. An expert Standards
New Zealand development committee, which included
representatives from the health, disability, mental health,
aged care, and other sectors, conducted the review. The
review also included public consultation.

The revised
Standards reduce duplicated content between four health
Standards published in 2001, are simpler to use, and reflect
current best practice. The Ministry of Health published a
regulatory notice in the New Zealand Gazette on 2 October
2008, with the effect of bringing NZS 8134:2008 into force
on 1 June 2009.

The four parts of the revised Standards
are available as a set or separately. Each part should be
read in conjunction with Part 0:

NZS 8134.0:2008 Health
and disability services (general) Standard, contains general
and reference information, including definitions and the
audit framework. It replaces the general information from
NZS 8134:2001, NZS 8141:2001, NZS 8142:2000 and NZS
8143:2001.

NZS 8134.2:2008 Health and disability services
(restraint minimisation and safe practice) Standards, are
intended to reduce the use of restraint in all its forms and
to encourage the use of least restrictive practices. They
replace NZS 8141:2001.

NZS 8134.3 Health and disability
services (infection prevention and control) Standards, are
designed to reduce the rate of infections in the health and
disability sector. They replace NZS 8142:2000.

The
Standards are available from Standards New Zealand:
www.standards.co.nz, or call the customer services team on
0800 782 632.

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